September 30, 2017
Did some running around the city and just plain old relaxing over the last few days, then opted for an outing to Sintra .
Hefty breakfast at “home” and a brisk 20-minute walk to the Rossio train station thinking we would get an early start and beat the crowds, haha on us….long line-up for train tickets, and finally on the 9:40 train arriving in Sintra about 10:45 only to find the bus line-up good for another 25 minutes of wait time (loop ticket = 11 Euro for us both > no senior discount)……but a gorgeous day and after a sardine can bus ride we are at the Moorish Castle…..entry fee 15 Euros (senior rate 50% off) and we are in.
The castle was constructed during the 8th and 9th centuries, during the period of Muslim Iberia, it underwent many transformations over time and in 1375 King Ferdinand I of Portugal, ordered the rebuilding of the castle. By 1838 the towers were already in ruins, when in 1840 Ferdinand II of Portugal took up the task of conserving and improving the condition of the castle…..go forward to around 1979, the castle’s tourist potential entered the equation and a lot of work was done to bring the castle to its current condition.
It is a short walk up a trail to the Castle…
…..and then it is time to climb the ramparts and reap the rewards of our workout:
…some really nice vistas….
….Pena Palace in background…
…and of course Moosie, our travel buddy, joined us on the wall (almost coming to a tragic end, as a wind gust took her to the very edge of the precipice)…
We really enjoyed the walkabout, the ramparts, exhibits etc. which were well done and although there were lots of tourists, the area could absorb them……Another lineup for the bus to get to the Pena Palace and when we arrived the crowds were CRAZY > discretion being the better part of valor, we bailed…..did a walkabout of Sintra town center instead …..super crowded but hardly a surprise !!
The original Moorish Palace (mentioned in texts from the 11th century) became the property of the Portuguese Crown after the conquest of the city of Lisbon by Alfonso Henriques in 1147 and is now known as the National Palace…
…… The Sintra Town Hall is one seriously ornate building: the facade contains an imposing battlement topped tower and a pyramidal tile covering, which alternately represents the Cross of Christ and the Portuguese Shield. The top displays an armillary sphere with four others of smaller size on the sides with sentry-boxes forming the corners of the tower …
….then train back to the Rossio Station >>>> yet another very cool station:
…and with everyone a bit parched (did I mention temperatures have been in the early 30C’s), some Sagres’s were in order…
…..then a walk back to the ranch and at 17:30 we are home…..amazing how time flies !!! Done and done…